A New Online Youth Protection Training has been launched.

This new version of YPT is for all adult leaders in all programs in BSA.

CUB SCOUT, BOY SCOUT, VENTURING, SEA SCOUTS & EXPLORING

All leaders must take the new online version by October 1st, 2018 even if your Youth Protection Training on record has not expired.

State of Texas Requirements (Online versus In Person Training).

The State of Texas requires all adults attending day camps and resident camps / summer camps to take the Texas-approved BSA in-person YPT classroom course. YPT cards from the the in-person Texas-approved YPT Course are good for 2 years and The YPT classroom course must be taken within two years of attending camp. The BSA ONLINE course may not be used for summer camps and day camps in the state of Texas. (Note that this state requirement applies only to adults attending summer camps and day camps in the state of Texas and doe NOT apply to unit camping.) The following are events hosted by the Alamo Area Council that require the in-person YPT classroom course:

Day Camp and Twilight Camp

Webelos Outdoor Adventure Camp

Boy Scout Summer Camp

The Texas requirement for face to face Youth Protection Training has not been updated. The current version only covers the Texas requirement for attending camps in Texas.

The new required online Youth Protection started on February 5, 2018. If you attended face to face YPT after that date it is only valid for attending camps in Texas as described above.

The BSA has continuously enhanced our policies and procedures to ensure we are in line with and, where possible, ahead of society’s knowledge of abuse and best practices for prevention.

The BSA requires and does background checks, local screening of volunteers, comprehensive training programs, and mandatory reporting of even suspected abuse. See excerpt below of disclaimer as it appears on the BSA Adult Application:

BY SUBMITTING THIS APPLICATION YOU ARE AUTHORIZING A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK OF YOURSELF. THIS CHECK WILL BE MADE FROM PUBLIC RECORD SOURCES. YOU WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TOREVIEW AND CHALLENGE ANY ADVERSE INFORMATION DISCLOSED BY THE CHECK.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE A COPY OF YOUR CRIMINAL BACKGROUND REPORT, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LOCAL COUNCIL OFFICE.

Under today’s policies, any good-faith suspicion of abuse must be immediately reported to law enforcement by members and volunteers, and an individual is removed from Scouting as soon as a report is received.

Scouting’s two-deep leadership policy requires at least two adults to be present for all Scouting activities. No youth should ever be alone with a Scout leader for any reason. In fact, all Scouting activities are open to parents, and we encourage families to enjoy Scouting together.

Every Boy Scout and Cub Scout handbook includes a pamphlet to help parents teach their children how to recognize, resist, and report abuse.

The BSA has a Youth Protection director dedicated to the continued enhancement of Scouting’s training programs and policies.

Numerous independent experts have recognized that the education and training programs protecting Scouts today are among the best in the youth-serving community. For a graphic that explains Scouting’s multilayered Youth Protection policies and procedures see below,